By Aparupa Ray Ganguly
It was a wet monsoon afternoon. My favourite cousin had come over from Kolkata with his girlfriend, and we were catching up on old times over a hearty, comforting meal of aloo posto, mochar ghonto, cholar daal and doi maach. Out of the blue, my brother said, “How about we drive down to Binsar for a few days to enjoy the rains?”
We have always been a tad partial to Binsar for its sheer, untamed beauty. The thought of rain-drenched silver-oak forests was so tempting! No electricity, just plain darkness and solitude in the middle of a forest called for a deep, spiritual experience.
“Why not,” I thought. The weather was a seductress that year. The rain gods had been kind and Delhi gleamed a glorious green under dark rain-bearing clouds. I have always been blessed with gracious bosses, so I took the liberty of calling up to take the next couple of days off. We packed within 45 minutes and zipped out on the roads. The 10-hour long road trip hardly left a dent of fatigue in us.
We were in high spirits, the weather was cool and driving on the rain-lashed roads from Delhi to the Himalayas was a trippy feeling. Occasionally, I popped my head out to feel the gush of the wet, earthy wind kiss my face. How wonderfully it refreshed my soul and stripped me of my city stress!
Chancing Upon The Beauty
As we drove up the gorgeous Himalayas, the landscape changed colour and texture. The hard, rocky mountains lay wrapped in velvety robes of moss. As if that wasn’t glamorous enough, the sky seemed to play along, often bursting into a bright crimson contrasted against a dark, sedate grey.
Then we saw it: high up on a mountain, a shimmering natural lake. No name, no signboards and no tourists. It glittered like an emerald studded on the rugged mountains and thick forest that seemed to arch protectively around it.
“We have to stop here,” I said. I wanted to be up there, I wanted to feel the water, touch it, be one with it. I wasn’t the only one with that thought—no sooner had I said the words than my cousin applied the brakes.
We parked our car on one side of the road and started making our way through the dense oak forests, stepping gingerly on slippery wet leaves and parting the near-impenetrable foliage that layered the ground. Our footsteps were shaky and unsure. We didn’t know if it was a sensible thing to do. The forest was really quiet and the quietness was indeed intimidating. We all huddled close and just kept walking, making our way, treading carefully down the steep incline.
Although it was mid-noon, our hearts skipped a beat every now and then. The fear of the unknown and the possibility of a lone leopard lurking in the bushes made us nervous. After an arduous walk of almost an hour, we had our reward: there she lay, a wonderful, virgin mountain beauty!
Taking The Plunge
Hidden from the prying eyes of human beings, safely tucked into the laps of the mighty Himalayas. Shy and vulnerable, she commanded respect and dignity for herself. We spent hours sitting by the lake, awestruck by its magnificent presence. The snow capped mountains stood proud. The dark rain bearing clouds made way for a crisp, silvery light that illuminated the lake. We were spellbound. It was a jaw-dropping picture.
Too soon, it was time to resume our journey. However, we almost couldn’t bear to let go. So, we did something that was totally in the moment. Tempted to just feel her one last time, we all jumped into the lake and swam till the far end—with our clothes on!. Yes, we swam in the pristine, green waters along with fish and water snakes. It was the most exhilarating, liberating of all feelings. Although the initial touch of the cold water had a stinging sensation on the skin, very soon it transformed into such a pleasurable feeling that we never wanted to get out. A free, boundless, infinite sky beckoned us to savour the feeling and seize the moment.
About Binsar
Located in the Almora District of Uttarakhand, it is at an elevation of 2400 metres.
Major attractions in Binsar are the snow-clad peaks of Chaukhamba, Panchachuli, Nanda Devi, Nanda Kot and Kedarnath, which are clearly visible from there.
Bineshwar Mahadev Temple
Bineshwar temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple was built by King Kalyan during 13 century and presents the brilliant architectural style of the erstwhile eras.
Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary
The sanctuary is home to more than 200 species of birds and wild animals. These include the Barking Deer, Himalayan Bear, Leopard, Fox, Musk Deer, Langur, Porcupine, Panthers, Wild Boars, Monkeys, Flying Squirrel, Chital etc.
Day Trips From Binsar
Bageshwar:
(60 kms)
An excursion to Bageshwar offers a chance to witness the mighty confluence of the pious rivers of Gomti and Saryu. The place derived its name from a popular temple-Bagnath. Devoted to the worship of Lord Shiva, the temple attracts thousands of pilgrims from different parts of the world.
Jageshwar:
(60 kms)
The divine temple town of Jageshwar houses one of the 12 Jyotirlingas found in India. It is located on the Almora-Pithoragarth road, in the beautiful Jataganga valley. Not only is the grand temple complex famous for its exquisite craftsmanship, but it also boasts of being located amidst thick deodar woods.
How To Get To Binsar
By Air:
Binsar is located 152 kms away from Pantnagar Airport. Daily flights connect Pantnagar with Delhi.
By Rail:
Kathgodam Railway Station is situated 119 kms away from Binsar. One could reach Kathgodam from any of the major Indian cities like Delhi, Lucknow, Kolkata etc. Also, private cabs and local buses ply between Kathgodam and Binsar.
By Road:
Binsar is well connected by motorable roads with major destinations of Kumaon and cities of northern India. Buses are easily available from ISBT Anand Vihar to Haldwani, Nainital, and Almora. Apart from that, taxis are also available from major cities of Kumaon region and Garhwal region to Binsar. Binsar can be reached easily by car, taxi or by luxury bus coaches.
Places to Stay
Binsar has many stay options which include The Binsar Tourist Rest House, Mountain Resort- Khali Estate, Binsar Eco Camp, The Binsar Retreat, Grand Oak Manor, ImperialHeights and many more.
Climate
Binsar has a comfortable climate all year round. When it’s summer, the temperature fluctuates between 25 degree centigrade to 11 degree centigrade, while in winter the temperature rises to a maximum of 15 degree centigrade and sees a minimum of 4 degree centigrade.
Best Time to visit
April to June and September to November
